Apparatus for the direct recovery from ores of heavy metals of the nonferrous group



Jan, 2l, 1941. LoHs'E '2,229,383 APPARATUS FOR THE DIRECT RECOVERY FROM CRES 0F HEAVY A,

METALS 0F THE NONFERRGUS GROUP gri/vento@ Jan. 21, 1941. J Uyl-|55;

' APPARATUS FOR THE DIRECT RECOVERY FROM ORES OF HEAVY METALS OF THE NONFERROUS GROUP 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

Filed Sept. 14,' 1959 Patented Jan. -2l, 1941 FROM ORES OF HEAVY NONFERROUS GRQUP vMETALS F THE Julius Lohse, Berlin, Germany Application September 14, 1939, Serial No. 294,942

` 12 Claims.

This invention pertains tothe class of metallurgy and more particularly to improvements in apparatus for the direct recovery of metals, particularly nonferrous metals, from their ores.

Thepresent application constitutes a continuation in part of my copending application, Ser. No. 182,110', filed December 28, 1937. v

'I'he present invention has to do with apparatus in which present-day chemical-'metallurgical processes for the recovery of .nonferrous metals such as copper and the like from ores, can be carried out with maximum utilization of heat jandin contlnuousoperationinthe treatment of metal from the crude ore stage up to the nished v'ui metal. A particular object of the invention herein disclosed is to provide in a furnace structure designed to carry out the stated process, an improved form of converter by means of which the Bessemerizing step may be more eiiieiently carried out and wherein the maintenance of proper temperatures may be more easily accomplished and the lformation cf copper oxide in the copper I bath prevented.

The invention is illustrated by way of exam- K'ple in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 shows in longitudinal section a furnaceV system according to the invention.

Fig. 2 illstrates a longitudinal section through 'l the central portion of the settler-converter furnace drum showing the partition structure between these units.

Fig. 2EL is an enlarged detailed view illustrating a bustle plate retaining spring and pin.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 2, but -showing a slight modification of the bustle'pipe f structure. mi Fig. 5 is a sectional Fig. 4.

In accordance with the invention roasted material is conducted in hot condition to a furnace system comprising a plurality of furnaces, which ,5 interengage telescopically or in stuiing-box fashion and each of which is preferably furnished with a separateV drive and is capable of being moved out separately for the purposeof repairs and overhauling. This furnace system com- 0 prises a portion of my complete rotary furnace system as it is disclosed in my original applicaview on the line 5-5 of tion hereinbefore referred to and consists of the final roasting and preheating chamber il, the settler I2, the converter I3 and the refining drum I 5, and is heated by the burner I 6 with a long name directed through the nozzle I6' in opposiftion to direction of movement o f the charge. 'I'his burner is such that by means of the same a mixi ture of liquid and solidfuels, the latter in pulverulent form, kind can be projected in a longflame into the rening drum I5.

The llame from' the burner I6 passes along the axis ofthe complete system through all ofthe rotary furnaces making up. the system and 'is 10 maintained bythe suction created in the system by a suitable fan, not shown.

In the final roasting and pre-heating chamber II, the charge supplied in the hot state is iinalli7 roasted and preliminarily fused and in this fused 15 condition it passes into the settler I2 where the slag is separated from the metal.

The settler I2 and converter I3 are in the form of a cylindrical structure .and are designed to provide at the point of separation` between the 20A two chambers I2v and I3 an inwardly directed annular wall which forms a part or continuation of the lining ofthe furnace, which Wall is indicated generally by the numeral 30 and is Aillustrated in detail in Figs. 2 and 4. This wall is 25 formed upon'the side toward the settler to have a steep face whereby an accumulation of the fused material Within the settler is brought about but upon the side of the wall looking into the converter chamber, the wall is formed to provide 30 a concentrically arranged series of annular terraces 30 of progressively, increasing diameter" from the settler toward the converter. These terraces are recessed or depressed so as to form annular channels.

The annular wall 30 is provided below the edge thereof with passages 3| which extend longitudinally of the furnace and are designed so that the slag 32 oating upon the fused material is prevented from running out of the settler into 40 the converter while the molten material 33 is able to pass through the passages 3| to the converter chamber by way of or over the annular terraces 30'. In flowing into the converter across the channeled terraces 30', the molten material 45 passes or flows over the orilicesof tuyres 34 which open through the bottom of the terraces and through these tuyres there is forced a `current of air'by means of a suitable air compressor or in any other suitable manner (not shown) for 50,

the purpose of aerating the molten material. For'accomplishing the discharge of air under pressure through the tuyres or passages 34, there is provided around the settler-converter unit a bustle pipe or annular manifold I4 having two 55 together with additions of a desired 5` 45 use of a more intense heat in the last 0 of air under pressure into molten metal. l

stuffing boxes I9 one upon each side thereof which have air-tight contact with the shell 20 of the drum and a pipe connection I4' for the introduction of air. Within this manifold there is disposed a thin steel band 35 which rests upon and partially encircles the outer side of the steel. shell of the furnace drum and which is held by means of suitable springs and pins 36 and 36a respectively, Fig. 2a in rm contact with the drum. I

The band 35 encircles substantially two-thirds of the circumference of the drum and closes or seals off the upper tuyres 3l against the passage of air therethrough sothat only those ltuyres which are situated below the molten metal in the drum are open for the passage of air through such metal which is flowing from the settler to the converter over the trough-like or, channeled annular terraces 30'.

In this terraced aerating hearth, there are removed the last impurities as slag. The slag and blister copper are caused to pass from the converter by the rotary movement of the latter and the provision of the helical grooves 38 which are formed in the lining of the converter, into the refining drum I5 where they can be separately tapped. The refining drum may be provided with a working door for the usual assaying, pooling the bath, slag skimming and the like. The rich slag which is removed from the refining drum may be re-run through the system for resmelting.

The poor slag is removed from the settler chamber I2 by allowing itv to flow off through the gap 2I between the pre-heating drum II and the drum I2 and is received in suitable slag,

drums of the furnace sysor otherwise suitable 40 driven by separate drives' D as illustrated in Fig.

l whereby it will be possible to regulate the operation of each drum at the will of the operator.

In certain instances, dependent on the quantity of raw material, it may be necessary to make refining stages. For this purpose there is provided in the pipe connection by means of which air is introduced into the annular terraced areas 30', a tuyre 31 adapted to inject heavy oils by means of which there may be introduced, for example, a mixture of air andoil vapors.

In Figs. 4 and 5, there is illustrated a modification of the structure shown in Figs. 2 and 3, In this v'modified form, the non-rotating manifold -5 or bustle-pipe III is divided into two sections or parts, one of these, indicated by the numeral Il, covering substantially two-thirds of the upper circumference of the furnace drum for the introduction of a mixture of oil and air into/the upper e9 tuyres 34. This upper section has yla pipe I1 connected therewith for the introduction of air and running into this pipe is a fuel oil conducting pipe 22 which terminates in a nozzle 23 by which oil may be introduced with the air. An oil supply tank 24 is shown with which the oil pipe line 22 is connected. The other part of the manifold, indicated by the numeral I4, is provided with a pipe connection I8 for the introduction the tuyres below the By this apparatus it is possible to prevent the formation of cuprous oxide in the copper bath,

- the cuprous oxide being immediately reduced to metallic copper owing to the presence of C and 75 Hz formed by the cracking of CH@ and CzHs forming the oil injected with the air. On thc upper side of the copper bath the said oil gases injected with the blowing air are caused to be ignited (C,Hz,CO being formed), so that avery high temperature is obtained at this point and it is quite impossible for the copper charge to be blown cold, such as occurs frequently in the processes at present in use.

The blown blister copper is discharged from the converter shell I3, for example by a helical rebrick lining38, so that the blister copper is discharged continuously into the refining drum I5, which is sufficiently large to act as a container. Very little refining requires to be done at this stage, as the converter I3 has worked up the blister copper by treating it as a thin band whilst it is passing over the inclined terrace-like tuyre zone, so that all impurities are collected in avery liquid slag, passing with the blister copper to the refining drum.

In carrying out theprocess of recovering metals in apparatus such asis here disclosed there are four sources of heat to maintain the processes carried out continuously in II, I2, I3 and I5, quite apart from the fact that the charge is already heated asa result of the primary roasting operation.

The rst source of heat is represented by the burner I6, whichprojects a long and powerfully whirling flame into the entire system of furnace drums.

The second source of heat is constituted by the. burning of sulphur contained in the white and blue metal bath, pouring through the partition openings into the converter section, to be blown there instantly to a blister copper.

The third source of heat is represented by the development of caloriesV by combustion of the cracked oil gases injected with the blowing air into the bustle pipe Il and the tuyre system.

Fourth source of heat: The large surfaces of the refining bath I5 with tons of liquid metallic copper and the revolving flrebrick lining raised to temperature by the burner I6. The surplus of heat from the combustion of the sulphur and oil gases-in the converterA and the flame heat itself constitute the means by which the process in the drum II of practically dead roasting and rapid smelting of charge material rich in copper is rendered possible, so that no poor matte, but rich blue and White metal isformed.

' It will be understood that numerous modifications are quite possible, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In an apparatus of the character set forth, a converter rotary shaft drum having Bessemerizing tuyres opening thereinto, a non-rotating manifold completely encircling the drum and communicating with said tuyres by which air under pressure is supplied to the tuyres, and a stationary band disposed within the manifold over the top of and partially encircling and lying against the drum tuyres lying above molten material in the drum,

the remaining tuyres below the band and lying 1 municationt with the manifold, and means for therein.

discharging a fuel oil into the drum through those tuyres lying below the molten metal level 3. In an apparatus of the character set forth, a converter rotary shaft drum, a non-rotating manifold encircling the drum and communicating with Bessemerizing tuyres leading through the wall of and into the drum, means for preventing air from passing from the manifold through v only those tuyres lying above the level of molten material in the drum, the tuyres lying below the molten material being in communication with the manifold and means for injecting fuel oil into the manifold with the introduced air.

4; In a-structure of the character described,ra rotary drum, an annular wall dividing said drum into two chambers, said wall upon one side having a substantially straight face and upon the opposite side being formed to provide a terraced series of concentrically arranged annular troughs,

the wall having a series of passages formed therethrough parallel with the drum and spaced from the edge of the wall, an air manifold encircling said drum, and said drum having a series of air passages' formed therethrough and disposed circumferentially thereabout and establishing communication between said manifold and the bot toms of said troughs.

5. In a structure of the character described, a rotary drum, an annular wall dividing said drum into two chambers, said wall upon one side hav-' ing a substantially straight face and upon the opposite side being formed to provide a terraced series of concentrically arranged annular troughs, the wall `having a series of passages formed therethrough parallel with the drum and spaced from the edge of the wall, an air manifold encircling said drum, said drum having a series of air passages formed therethrough and disposed circumferentially thereabout and establishing communication between said manifoldl and the bottom of said troughs, and means within the manifold and extending partially about the drum for confining the passage of air from the manifold through the air passages lying within a prescribed circumferentially extending area of the drum.

6. Ina structure Vof the character described, a rotary drum, an annular wall dividing said drum into two chambersysaid wall upon' one side having a substantially straight face and upon the opposite side being formedto provided a terraced series of concentrically arranged annular troughs, the Wall having a series of passages formed therethrough parallel with the drum and spaced from the edge of the wall, an air manifold encircling said drum, said drum having a series of air passages formed therethrough and disposed circumferentially thereabout and establishing communication between said manifold and the bottoms of said troughs, and a band lying within themanifold and extending around a portion of the circumference of the drum to close the air passagei ways leading from the manifold into the drum through a prescribed circumferential area of the drum, said band being held stationary with the manifold with respect to the drum.

7. In apparatus lof the character set forth, a converter rotary shaft drum, a non-rotating manifold encircling the drum, the drum being provided with a plurality of tuyres extending in a generally radial direction through the wall sageways between the manifold and the interior of the drum below the molten metal level therein, and means for introducing air into the manifold.

8.`In apparatus of the character set forth, a converter rotary shaft drum, a non-rotating manifold encircling the-drum, the drum being provided with a plurality of tuyres extending in a generally radial direction through the wall thereof and disposed throughout the circumference-of the drum, said tuyres Aat their outer ends communicating with said manifold, means maintaining a stationary position within the manifold for covering and closing only those -tuyres lying above the level of molten metal in the drum, the remaining tuyres forming unobstructed air passageways between the manifold and the interior of the drum below the molten metal level therein, and means for introducing'air into the manifold, the said tuyres being disposed throughout the circumference of the drum in a plurality of groups spaced longitudinally of the drum and the tuyres of each group extending through the wall of the drum at an angle with respect to thel terrace-like 'form towards the converter, tuyres Y being provided in the said terrace-like vportion for Bessemerizing the material, openings being provided in the annular wall permitting passage of the molten White and blue metal out of the settler, whilst the slag swimming on the White and blue metal is separated by specific gravity, the outer end ofthe settler comprising an annular wall having a lip overv which the .slag is discharged.

10. In an apparatus of the character described, a .settler and converter consisting of a single rotary shaft furnace drum, an inwardly directed annular wall within the drum intermediate the ends thereof dividing the same into settler and eonverterchambers, said wall upon the converter chamber side being of gradual slope and provided throughout its circumferential extent with tuyre openings, said wall having openings extending therethrough longitudinally Vof the furnace for the passage of molten metal from the settler to the converter, an air manifold encircling the drum and covering said openings, the manifold being fixed against rotation, means for introducing air into the manifold, and means for maintaining closed during the rotation of the drum those-passages lying `above the level' of `metal in the converter. y

11. In an apparatus of the character described, a settler and converter consisting of a single rotary shaftV furnace drum, an inwardly directed annular wall within' the drum intermediate the ends thereof dividing the same into settler and converter chambers, said wall upon the converter chamber side being of gradual slope and provided throughout its circumferential extent with tuyre openings, said Wall having openings extending therethrough longitudinally of the furnace for the passage of molten metal from the settler to the converter, and means for introducing a fluid into the converter chamber through said passages during the rotation of the furnace, and helical grooves in the Wall of the converter chamber at the outlet end of the furnace for carrying o molten metal by the rotation of the furnace.

12. In an apparatus of the character described, a settler and converter consisting of a single rotary shaft furnace drum, an inwardly directed annular .wall within thedrum intermediate the ends thereof dividing the same into settler and converter chambers, said Wall upon the converter chamber side being of gradual slope and provided throughout its circumferential extent with tuyre openings, said wall having openings extending therethrough longitudinally of the furnace for the passage of molten metal from the settler to the converter, means for introducing air into the converter through said passages lying below the level of metal in the converter, and means for introducing a combustible fluid into the converter through the passages located above the level of metal therein.

JULIUS LOHSE. 

